CINCINNATI, Ohio – This one hurt because woulda should coulda.

The Jaguars could have won Sunday and perhaps should have won. They would have won if one or two things had gone differently. Instead, they lost a gut-wrencher to the Cincinnati Bengals, 31-27, at Paycor Stadium – a game defined by mistakes and big-moment missed opportunities.

Wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. had a costly drop – at least. So did wide receiver Dyami Brown. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw two first-half interceptions, but also threw three touchdowns and coulda/shoulda/would had two more.

The Jaguars easily could be 2-0. They perhaps should be 2-0. They're not 2-0 because they didn't make enough plays late. It's not time to panic. The inbox won't reflect that.

Let's get to it …

JohnnyD from Cedar Rapids, IA

Good teams win close games. THIS is STILL not a good team.

No, but the Jaguars are an improved team and a team doing a lot right. They are also an encouraging team. That doesn't make a loss feel that much better, but it bodes well for the short- and long-term future.

Andy from Halifax

That feels like a missed opportunity, no?

Absolutely and inarguably.

David from Jacksonville

Was it just me, or did officials blow the Hunter penalty?

You're referencing a pass interference call on Jaguars rookie wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter in the fourth quarter, a 25-yard penalty that turned a Bengals fourth down into a first down at the Jaguars 42. Hunter from this view appeared to make a play on the ball with little significant contact on wide receiver Andrei Iosavas. I thought it was the wrong call.

Stephen from Wallingford, CT

BTJ looks disgruntled and Hunter looks like a publicity stunt.

I don't know if Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is gruntled or disgruntled. I do know he has to catch the pass he dropped near the Bengals' goal line in the fourth quarter and it appears he needed to go a lot stronger after an end-zone pass earlier in the quarter. He also appeared to need to go stronger for a pass that turned into an interception earlier in the game. Thomas knows these things, too. He had a bad day. He has had more good ones than bad ones. As for Hunter, he's a rookie who played his second NFL game Sunday. It's way too early to call him a "publicity stunt."

Ryan from Bremerton

Is it already time to push the panic button, especially on the defense?

Goodness no.

Alan from Mandarin

Brutal loss, beat ourselves for sure. But, shades of Myles Jack, Devin Lloyd was not down. Plus, the ref blew the play dead despite the league's policy change and there was no replay. Has the NFL learned nothing?

Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd indeed appeared to not be down when tackled at the Bengals 12-yard line after a fourth-quarter interception. He rolled over Bengals running back Chase Brown, but neither his knees, behind nor elbow appeared to be on the ground. The official shouldn't have blown the play dead, but officials react to what they see and it would have been hard for any official to not think Lloyd was down.

Steve from Shreveport

Well that is how to start a game on both offense and defense!!

The Jaguars couldn't have started more impressively Sunday. They had 133 yards to minus-2 early and a 7-0 lead. They missed a major opportunity to go ahead 14-0 when cornerback Dax Hill intercepted Lawrence in the end zone on third-and-goal from the eight with 4:52 remaining in the first quarter. It was the sort of moment that defines and changes games. The Jaguars still should have won the game.

Mike R from Jax, FL

More of a comment. This game was very reminiscent of 1996 versus St Louis. Gave that one away.

Good eye.

JT from Palm Coast

Lawrence having a costly turnover is a tale as old as time.

Lawrence had "quite the day" Sunday. He threw three touchdowns and had some really impressive plays. He threw two interceptions and nearly threw another, and the first interception – by Hill on a pass to Hunter on third-and-goal from the Bengals' eight-yard line – was one you can't throw. In addition to this, he had too many passes dropped – including two in the fourth quarter that could have secured the victory. There was a lot of Lawrence angst in the inbox, understandably so. But Lawrence from this view wasn't the story of the game. He played well after his mistakes – well enough to win, certainly.

Art from Just shy of the ditch

O, new feeling and experience four me! O line is great and so is Tlaw! Keep it up.

This was the much-ballyhooed, oft-used, sometimes-silly First Email of the Game. The Jaguars' start was impressive. Art was pleased. He wasn't alone.

Kelly from Jacksonville

Hey, John. I know it's not as important as the Myles Jack play, but do you know who else wasn't down?

Devin Lloyd Also Wasn't Down.